Will using CBD oil show up on a drug test?

Will using CBD oil show up on a drug test?

The popularity of using CBD oil to alleviate the symptoms of numerous different medical conditions is growing rapidly across the U.S. partly due to the fact the CDB oils derived from hemp are now legal for purchase and possession in all 50 U.S. states. Consequently, many people are now using CBD oils to treat various conditions such as depression, insomnia, chronic pain, and even various forms of cancer. However not all CBD oils are created equal and thus, even if they are derived from the Cannabis Ruderallis plant which is one of the four different species of Cannabis, some CBD oils do contain trace amounts of THC. Consequently, it is reasonable to wonder if ingesting CBD oil could cause a person to test positive for THC if they are subjected to a drug test. Therefore, below we will examine the science of modern drug testing and whether or not ingesting CBD could put you at risk of falsely testing positive for THC.

Can CBD Cause You to Fail a Drug Test? –

So, how does a modern drug test work? Well, the answer to that question is that modern drug tests are specifically designed to search for certain chemical compounds rather than a broad class of different, but similar, chemicals. Consequently, there is no currently available drug test that is capable of testing for cannabinoids in general. Instead, they are only capable of testing for specific cannabinoids such as THC and THC-COOH which is its main metabolite

Thus, this is good news for people who use CBD oils to alleviate the various symptoms of their medical conditions because it means that manufacturers of drug tests are forced to be very specific about the chemical compound or compounds that their tests search for. Therefore, because THC is the chemical that gives cannabis its psychoactive properties, it is the compound that modern drug screens presently test for.

In fact, while some methods of drug testing such as mouth swabs, hair tests, and blood tests, specifically search for the presence of THC, others such as urinalysis search for THC’s main metabolite, THC-COOH which is retained by a person’s body much longer than THC is. Consequently, there is, at present, no drug test available that can detect the presence of CBD alone because police, employers, and insurance agencies simply do not see the need for it.

So, because there is presently no drug test than can detect the presence of CBD, in most cases, ingesting CBD oil will not cause a person to test positive for THC. However, as previously stated, not all CBD oils are created equal! Therefore, if you are subject to a drug test by your employer, there are some issues that you should be aware of before using CBD oil such as the source from which it is made, how it is concentrated and, how your body metabolizes it in addition to the amount that you use.

Different Sources Yield Different Results –

Thus, you should first beware that due to the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018 (aka Farm Bill), it is now legal for U.S. farmers to grow hemp provided that the plants they grow contain no more than 0.3% THC. Consequently, CBD oil derived from hemp (Cannabis Ruderalis) is legal in all 50 U.S. states and, it has such a low THC content that is does not cause a user to test positive for THC if they are drug tested.

However, there are presently 10 U.S. States that allow their residents to legally use cannabis for recreational purposes and 32 states that allow their residents to use cannabis to alleviate medical conditions. Therefore, while most CBD oil is derived from Cannabis Ruderalis and thus, it has a very low THC content, some manufacturers instead derive their CBD oil from the Cannabis Sativa or Cannabis Indica species rather than the Cannabis Ruderalis species and, CBD oils derived from these species can have a significantly higher THC content.

In fact, sometimes referred to as “hash oil” or “Rick Simpson oil”, essential oils extracted from the Cannabis Sativa or Cannabis Indica species can actually have extremely high THC contents and thus, they are generally reserved for recreational purposes. However, not all strains of Cannabis Sativa or Cannabis Indica have excessively high THC contents and thus, CBD oils extracted from some of the less potent strains can have relatively low THC contents. Therefore, while this type of “full-spectrum” extract can be very beneficial to people suffering from serious illnesses such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, or fibromyalgia, its significantly higher THC content (usually 6% or more) means that it will cause a user to test positive for THC is they are subjected to a drug test even though it contains far more CBD than THC.

Consequently, in theory, CBD oil derived from hemp (Cannabis Ruderalis) cannot be detected by modern drug tests but, CBD oil that is derived from either the Cannabis Sativa or Cannabis Indica species can cause a person to inadvertently test positive for THC even though they are only using CBD oil instead of smoking or vaporizing cannabis flowers. Therefore, CBD oils extracted from any cannabis species other than Cannabis Ruderalis (aka hemp) should be studiously avoided by anyone who is subject to a drug test.

So, if you use CBD oil for one or more medical conditions but, are concerned with the possibility of testing positive if subjected to a drug test, then when purchasing CBD oil, you should be careful to note both the source from which it is derived and its THC content and, if the manufacturer fails to clearly disclose either, then you should consider purchasing from a more reputable manufacturer.

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CBD Isolates –

On the other hand, if you are genuinely concerned about the THC content of your CBD, then an even safer alternative is to ingest a CBD Isolate rather than a full-spectrum CBD oil. So, what is a CBD Isolate and how does it differ from CBD oil?

Well, the answer to that question is that even CBD extracted from hemp rather than recreational or medical cannabis is extracted along with small amounts of THC in addition to the over 100 other cannabinoids found in cannabis along with a certain amount of terpenes, chlorophyll, and organic plant matter. However CBD Isolates are 99% pure CBD and thus, they exclude the contaminates that CBD oils normally contain.

Consequently, instead of having an earthy green color and a pleasant aroma, CBD Isolates appear as a white powder that has no taste or smell and which can be easily dissolved in water. In addition, CBD Isolates are far more concentrated than CBD oils and thus, it requires far less to achieve the same results. But, most importantly, CBD Isolates do not contain any THC and thus they are the safest means of ingesting CBD for those who are subject to a drug test. Plus, they can easily be added to any beverage or food or, a person can simply place a measured dose of the powder beneath their tongue until it dissolves.

Conclusion –

So, although modern drug tests presently only test for THC and thus, ingesting CBD will not cause you to test positive for THC, some full-spectrum CBD oils do contain enough THC to cause a person to fail a drug test. Therefore, if you choose to ingest CBD oil instead of a CBD Isolate and you are concerned about failing a drug test, it is important to note both the source of the CBD you consume as well as its THC content. On the other hand, you can avoid any confusion or misrepresentation by choosing a CBD Isolate instead because CBD Isolates are 99% pure CBD and thus, even when taken in large doses, CBD Isolates simply cannot cause a person to test positive for THC.

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